Cable-clamping device for guard rails



Dec. 6, 1927.

J- C. NEVIUS CABLE CLAMPING DEVICE FOR GUARD RAILS Original Filed Jan. 8, 1925 Patented Dec. '6, 1927.

orrice.

JOHN VCLNEVIIIUIS, OF 'rnnnroiv, NEW JERSEY.

CABLE-CLAMPING niivronr'on GUARD RAILS.

Application filed January 8, 1925, Serial m. 1,210. Renewed April 27, 1927.

.Thisinvention is an improvement in cable clamping devices for clamping cable guardrails against the rail posts, and one object of the invention is to provide novel clamp ing devices for what I term a flush-face back onto the roadway, but will'prevent the vehicle, as it slidesalong in contact with the guard-rail, from coming in contact with the posts or parts of the cableclamps, and thus prevent the vehicle from being brought to a violent, sudden stop.

In the usualconstruction of cable guard rails, the cables are generally assed through bores in the fence posts, orif clamping devices are used to support the cables on the posts, such clamps, heretofore designed, have had portions projecting into and beyond the vertical plane tangent of the edge of the cable opposite the fence posts. In either case an obstruction .is presented which is likely to do additional da'mages'to a vehicle side-swiping the guard rail, by the impact of parts of the vehicle against the protruding portions of the fence posts or clamps. My novel clamps eliminate the possibility of the vehicle touching either the posts or cable clamps.

Other objects of the invention are, to pro vide novel cable clamps for gua d rails, by the use of which openings maybe left in the guard-rail at any place, andof any desired width; the fence posts may be replaced at any point without interference with any other parts of the guard rail; the strain on the cable is equally distributed throughout will require no eablebores in the posts, ice

the entire line ofposts, thereby developing the full strength of the cable; the guard rail may be quickly erected by inexperienced men and the maintenance will be negligible; furthermore, the erection of the guard rail dead men, or pull-offs, no eye-bolts,

spread ers,braces, or the like, and the clamps may be readily attachable toeither round or square posts; and the construction is inexpensive, and will embody the desired feature of economy, stability, durability, and fleXibility. V I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illu'strates'practical embodiments thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same, and

will summarize in the claims thenovelfeatures of construction and novel combinations of parts, for which protection isdesired. In said drawings; i i Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing my prea round rail post.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a View similarto'Fig. 1,showing the preferred form of device mounted on a square post. is i F ig; 4 is a top plan view of a modified 1 form of the clamping device mounted on a round post.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 4 showing the modifiedform of devicemounted-on a square 'post.

Fig.7 is a top plan view of the'form of clamping device used at the ends of the on the end posts of the guard rail.

' Fig. '8 is a side elevation thereof.

' As shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the preferred form of my cable clamping device comprisesa body portion 1, of desired length, having a relatively short transverse projection I at the center thereof, said projection l having cable 70...: ferred form of clamping device mounted on I v at its outer end a metal strap l for attachingthe device to the rail post P, which strap 1, 1f the device is to be mounted on a round post (F lgs. 1 and 2) is preferably arcuate and curved to suit the radius of the round post upon which the device is to be mounted, but in casethedevice is to be mounted on a square post, (Fig, 3) the strap 1*" is prefer ably formedfin an L-shape with one leg thereof disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion 1, and the other leg disposed at'right angles thereto, so that the device may be attached to a corner of such square post of any size. The outer ends of the strap 1 are provided with perforations 1 adapted for the passage thirtieth-rough of the tap-bolts. or screws. 1 which hold the device to the post. The plane of the longitud nal axis of the strap 1" is preferably parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body portion 1.

The body portion 1 of the preferred form of clamping device, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is of suitable length, and isv preferably substantially semi-circular in cross-section, the radius: of the inner lace thereofbeing. equal to th'ati orf. thecahle C which is to be clamped thereto. The body portion. 1. ex tends slightly more than halt-way around the cable C, but no portionof'the body 1 extendssbeyond the outer edge of the cable. G

or into the vertical plane tangent to the edge ofthe cable C opposite. to the posts P, tor thepurp'ose; hereinafter described.

The-outer faceof body portion 1 is. preferably. slightly tapered at both. ends, and:

adapted to receive the correspondingly ta;

pared relatively thick C-shaped members 1 which slidably engage said tapered ends and are driven over the tapered ends of the body. to, contractthebody portion l: around the cable thereby frictionallybinding.the cable in the device, and preventing longitudinal or transverse movement of the cable C in the: body portion 1;

. As shown, no portionsof the. Cvshaped members 1 extend beyond the outer edgeof thecable. (3., or into the; vertical plane-tangenttotheedge of. the. cable. C. opposite .to,

the posts P, so that when the cable is. proper- 1 ly clamped in the device.thealatter-presents no. projection into thevertical plane-of the tangent to outer edges of the: cables C, whereby in case an automobile or other ve-. hieleshould collide with, or side-swipe the cableguarchrail the vehicle may slide unobstructed past the fence posts]? and. cable clamps, and suffer, no additional: damage WlllOh'WOLllCl be caused by impact there-with, resulting a violent, sudden stop. I

Themod'fied. 'orm oi? cable clamping device shown ,in Figs. 4, and and6 embodies the same principal feature of the device shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in that nocportionof the device projects into the vertical planeof the tangent to outer edgeot the cableC, when'such cahle-issecured in the, device.

The, body. portion 2.. of themodified form (Figs. 4:6) is. somewhat. shorter. thanthe body 1. of thedeviceshownin Figs. 1+3, but is. provided with a longitudinal. groove-2f on itsouter side face, said groove 2* being substantially semi-circular in cross-section, and extending, more than half-way around thecable C, the radius of curvature oi said groove 2" being the same as that of the cable C, which is to be clamped therein, so. that when the cable is inserted in said groove the outer'edge of the cable projects beyond the outer edge of the body 2.

tracted around the cable C securely binding thee-able in theclamp. f

of body portion 21s a On the-inner end v strapQ similar to strap ,1" shown. in'Eigs, 1, 2 and 3, saidstrap 2? being either arcuate to fit a round post,'or.'L-sha-ped to fit a'square post, I 2 and the strap 2, so. that no portion ofisaid bolt will project intothe vertical plane tangent to the outer edge of the cable G.

The clamping. device 3.used at each end ot thecable G,shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is prefer-ably U-shape in. cross-section, the. distance between the parallellegs 3 thereof being preferably. slightly less than thedia'meter of the I i 3 is a. perforation 3 adapted tofreceivea tap-bolt. or screw 3 'for. fastening .the. device to the post. The baseof theclamp is preferably widened as at 3f to, prevent the device from pivoting upon thep ost, The, end of theoable O is preferably. wrappedlialf-wa'y around the end post and forcibly inserted between .the. legs 3*? of clamp 3, thereby bind ing the end. of the. ,cable in the device. In case the: endpost should be square instead of round (Fig; 7). the corners of the post in way of'the cable couldibe notched'or cut away to relieve the bendingstrainin the cable.

A cable guard-rail constructed with my novel cable clamping devices, will be strong,

durable, and: flexible, and can be readily ble (3. Through the base ofthedevice Bolt 2 is.disposedbetweenithe groove erected. by inexperienced workmen; the

strain will be equally distributed throughout the entire line, of, posts thereby'developing the full strength of the cable the .postsmay be replaced at any point without interference with any other part of the guard-rail; the cable is positively supported at each post; the cable will shunt colliding vehicles back into the road] and by reason o;f.the fact that no portions either of the posts or cable clamp i.ng devices project into the. vertical pl ne of the a ge ml the ge? ca opposite to the posts the guard-rail will do no damage to. a vehicle which may side-swipe the guard rail at a. point opposite a post.

. I donot limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawing, for obviously the scope of the invention.

I claim: I

1. A cable clamp comprising a body portion; means for mounting said body portion on a post; said body portion having a minor details may be made therein withingroove in its face opposite to said supportmeans of less depth than the diameter of the cable to be inserted therein; and means engaging the body portion opposlte the groove for clamping the cable in said groove, no portion of the clamp projecting beyond the outer edge of the cable.

2. In a cable clamp as set forth in claim 1, the ends of said body portion being tapered outwardly, and said clamping means comprising members slidably engaging said tapered portions, no portions of said members projecting beyond the outer edge of the cable. a

3. A cable clamp comprising an integral body portion; means for mounting said body portion on a post; said body portion having a substantially semi-circular groove in its face opposite to said supporting means, said groove being of less depth than the diameter of the cable to be inserted therein;

and meansengaging the body portion opposite the groove for contracting the body 1 the outer edges of the body portion'for contracting the body around the cable, no portion of the clamp projecting beyond the outer edge of the cable.

integral substantially C'- 5. In a cable clampas set forth in claim 4, the ends of said body portion being slightly tapered outwardly, and said contracting means comprising correspondingly tapered substantially C-shaped ,membersslidably engaging said tapered portions; no portions of said members projecting beyond the outer edge of the cable.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own, I aflix my signature. 1

JOHN C. NEVIUS. 

